7 Barcelona Parks and Gardens (You Don’t Want to Miss)

When traveling, there’s sometimes no better way to immerse oneself in a city than by visiting the parks and gardens. Spaces beloved by locals and visitors alike, a city’s green spaces are often littered with evidence of the area’s art, culture, food, and lifestyle. 

This is certainly true when looking at the many parks, gardens, and green spaces in Barcelona, and certainly a visit to the city without experiencing Barcelona’s parks and gardens would be an incomplete one. There’s something about the bustling Barcelona parks located just out of the city center or the Sagrada Familia that lends themselves to a more thorough Barcelona experience. 

Yes, Barcelona’s beaches might get the limelight when it comes to outdoor activities for travelers, but we often find that travelers truly wanting to see Barcelona like a local will opt for the shaded, lush Barcelona parks instead. 

From the most famous gardens and the most centrally-located to the hidden, emerald gems tucked away in residential neighborhoods, let’s pay a visit to some of Barcelona’s top five parks and gardens.  

Ahead of planning your trip to Barcelona, Spain, learn about Barcelona’s history, architecture, art, and parks with an online seminar. Our scholars and experts have discussed anything from Gaudi’s Park Güell to the struggle for Catalonian Independence and Barcelona tapas in succinct 90-minute lectures.

1. Park Güell

No visit to Barcelona—whether you’re interested in green spaces or not—is complete without a stop at Park Güell, and so we’ll start our explorations there. The landscaping is not nearly as eye-catching as the Art Nouveau architecture and artwork, so while we’ll appreciate the various flora and the views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean, we’ll likely pay more attention to the colorful mosaics, sweeping columns, and grandiose staircases that cover the park, evidence of the artist’s, Antoni Gaudi, unarguable genius. While we might have to wait a few moments for the other travelers to clear the area, we certainly wouldn’t want to miss a chance to catch a selfie in front of the famed mosaic salamander, one of the most photographed points of interest in the city. 

Where: Park Güell, 08024 Barcelona, Spain

2. Parc de Cervantes 

We’ll visit Parc de Cervantes, walking into the park right off Av. Diagonal, with one thing in mind—roses. The park is famous for them, with approximately 10,000 rose bushes coming to full bloom in late spring and early summer. The wide, expansive Barcelona park is brimming with the flowers, beds of them laid out neatly as a nod to Barcelona’s history in floral competitions. If the youngest members of our party aren’t quite as enchanted by the buds as we are, they’ll be glad to find a playground and children’s games in the center of the park, as it’s a very locally-beloved site frequented by families from the surrounding neighborhoods. For the nature lovers and floral admires, this is one of the most fitting Barcelona parks.

Where: Avinguda Diagonal, 706, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

3. Montjuïc Park

Montjuïc is not only a park, it’s also a very prominent hill located right next to the Mediterranean. Archaeologists and historians believe it to be the birthplace of Barcelona, as it was a strategic location coveted by cultures throughout the centuries, including the Romans. Now, Montjuïc Park retains its relevance by providing a range of activities suitable for any traveler. 

For views of the harbor, one might take the funicular up to the hill’s peak. On our way down, we can stop by the various cultural landmarks that call Montjuïc home. There’s the National Palace, which isn’t really a palace, but instead, a structure built for the 1929 International Exhibition and home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The Magic Fountain is also a can’t-miss spot, as it spews water far above our heads, accompanied by lights and music. The Barcelona Olympic Park is likewise situated inside Montjuïc Park, encompassing all the main facilities for the 1992 Olympic Games. 

Where: Parc de Montjuïc, Avinguda del Castell, Barcelona, Spain

4. Parc de la Ciutadella

Similarly, we always find an entire trip’s worth of adventures and activities when we visit Parc de la Ciutadella. The large, free, and public Barcelona park was created in the mid-1800s, at which point it was the only green space in Barcelona, but the land’s historical significance stretches back even further. In 1774, a citadel was built on the grounds by King Philips V and its remnants can be seen in the Catalan Parliament Building. 

One of the park’s most notable spots is the Cascada Fountain, where we admire the glimmering waters that surround the extravagantly designed fountain base, outfitted with mythical creatures. If we’re not pressed for time, we can easily spend a good portion of our day within Parc de la Ciutadella, visiting the Parc Zoologic, Geological Museum, and other top spots. But if like us, you’d rather stay outdoors simply rent a rowboat and take a turn around the park’s lovely lake.

Where: Passeig de Picasso, 21, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

5. Laberint d’Horta

While Parc de la Ciutadella maybe Barcelona’s oldest established, public park, the Laberint d’Horta contains the oldest established Barcelona garden. The elegant green space harkens back to a more regal time and we might find ourselves feeling a bit royal ourselves as we casually stroll the 18th-century neoclassical garden, the 19th-century romantic garden, and the hedge maze. The three-terraced gardens are conveniently situated inside the historic Desvalls estate, allowing us to explore a bit of history and architecture as we peruse the pristine landscaping, manicured to perfection and scattered with sculptures of Greek gods and goddesses. 

Where: Passeig dels Castanyers, 1, 08035 Barcelona, Spain

6. Diagonal Mar Park

The second biggest of Barcelona parks, we’re consistently amazed by Parc Diagonal Mar’s variety of plants, intriguing hanging sculptures, and refreshing water features. The park was once the site of the Macosa factory but was redeveloped as a part of Barcelona’s revitalization of industrial spaces which we are thankful for. The modern architectural feel of the park is rather abstract thanks to Enric Miralles who designed and opened the park in 2002. Take time to walk over the futuristic Gateway Lake bridge which zigzags its way through the sky offering wonderful views over the lush space. For kids, there is plenty of room for running around, admiring playful sculptures, and whizzing down the slides in the playground. There’s a dog park too for watching playful pups or bringing your own for a runaround. It’s a wonderful place to spend a relaxing few hours yet within easy reach of the city. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a festival or music performances throughout the day.

Where: Carrer de Llull, 350, Barcelona, Spain

7. Tamarita Gardens

Jardins de la Tamarita, or Tamirata Gardens, surround a stunning bourgeois mansion from the early 20th century. The gardens abound with fountains, classical statues, and other ornate decorative elements. We find it the perfect spot to potter through as we admire the orderly gardens with their impressive classical features away from the crowds of some other locations. Write a journal, or read a book while you absorb some quiet time in this beautiful oasis in the city. For families, the park is small enough to always have an eye on the kids, or there is a specific children’s play area with a mini-adventure playground.

Where: Passeig de Sant Gervasi, 47, Barcelona, Spain

Looking for the Sagrada Familia? Well that’s another story and well worth your time. Context organizes Sagrada Familia private tours of Gaudi’s inspiring creation or online seminars and courses covering all of the globe. Explore with an expert. You won’t regret it.